Life, 1913-07-10 · page 11 of 44
Life — July 10, 1913 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks both Japanese and American attitudes through a fictional Japanese correspondent's observations. The schoolboy writes to Life's editor questioning why Japanese are "more short in their stature" than Americans, then describes visiting American baseball games and athletic venues. The satire works on multiple levels: the naive Japanese observer expresses wonder at American physical culture and sports, while also gently mocking American behavior (crude fans, excessive drinking, violence in games). The illustrations show a muscular American contrasted with a small Japanese boy, playing into racial stereotypes of the era. The piece appears designed to be humorous through cultural misunderstanding—presenting American sports and physical development as objects of foreign curiosity while subtly critiquing American conduct and values through an outsider's perspective.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
a Li PE* Letters of a Japanese Schoolboy EN. | “Do Baseball Play Make To Editor “Life Weekly,” who make death, marriage and other crimes seem more comical than newspapers think: Dearsir » Dr. I. Izu, clergyman Heathen Church, Tokyo, thinks very considerable about Japanese progress, so he writes following enquiring letter to Daily Shinbun of that location: “Reason for why is Japanese more short in their statuary than other American citizens? I will answer, thank you! Their ancestry has sat down indoors too much while exercising. This have gave them intellectuality and — other forms of dyspepsia. But Amer- icans is otherwisely raised. From childhood date of infancy each American is fed foods which make them sifficiently strong to insult Japan; also they earnestly enter into out- door sport-plays which develup their muscles until their bodies is all covered with biceps. “Therefore, Japan should study how America play this outside game of strength so they can become lengthwise like Hon. Resp. Woodrow Wilson and sidewise like Hon. Retired Wm. Taft. : Mr. Editor, I read this lecture wisdom with enlarged eyebrows. In my own statuary I am merely 4 ft. 9 1-3 inches in altitude. Therefore I better learn this American sporty game for increase the size of my diagram. So I approach to saloon of Hon. Strunsky, Irish gentle- man, where slight sup of beer can be obtained amidst conversation, price 5c. I renig, “what are most favorite American game of strength?” Americans More Stronger?” “Baseballing,” he report while selling his goods to drunkards. “Would some National League teach me how do it I ask to know. “They might teach you to be a fan,” he renounce. se fans is very handsome art,” I say back. reply for him. Therefore I go to suburbs of trolley for find some fence behind which National League noises was being made. I chose the loudest sound and followed inside where 100,000 Americans was also going there with happy expression of straw hats. I was daffled by suprise that so many persons could play one game. When I encroach inside those grounds I observe 9 Green Sox gentleman brutally tossing at one Grey Pants gentle- man who attempt to defend himself with club. 14 other Grey Pants gentleman sat beside and never offer to hellup. And what was those 100,000 straw-hatish Ameri- cans doing for exercise? Merely setting and speaking disrespect about one personality they call Hon. Home Team. I could not see where this gentleman was, but he must be entirely criminal. Nothing among those Americans worked except their jaws which ate gum carnivorously. “Are this Hon. Home Team of who you mention a valuable person?” I ask from Hon, Fat who sat next by me. “Very rare,” he snuggest. “ He got head of solid ivory.” While yet he said it, of suddenly Hon, Grey Pants gentleman stroked Hon. Ball harshly with club and escape away before some Green Sox could arrange some more assassinality. And where Hon. Ball in the meanwhiles? He had eloped upwards to skylight of heaven whilst 11% baseballers extend their pillowed hands to where he soared. “ Will it come down?” I require of Hon. Fat who drank nourishing popp. “Tt always does,” he narrate for considerable experience. And surely he were right! At altitude of considerable on No comicbooks.com